Rubies have been known since antiquity. This stone is associated with fire, blood and mad passion. Ruby is one of the most valuable stones in the world. Interestingly, a perfect Burmese ruby ​​will cost more than a diamond. This situation has arisen because very few natural minerals of perfect forms have been found.

A story with a touch of magic

Whatever names have been assigned to the ruby ​​during its existence. Among the Slavs, it bore the name "Yahont", some Roman connoisseurs called it carbunculus, the Greeks gave the stone the nickname anthrax, and in ancient Sanskrit, the ruby ​​was christened the king of gems. It is believed that the owner of the stone will gain control of power and strength in order to improve their destiny.

But there are two important points: you cannot wear a ruby ​​all the time, since it is capable of becoming energy vampire in relation to the owner; a person who has achieved a certain life status is worthy to safely own a stone.

To this day, natural ruby ​​is credited with magical and healing properties:

• help in overcoming obsessive fear;
• opposition to the forces of darkness;
• excitement of irresistible passion;
• hypotension treatment;
• the presence of a hemostatic function;
• the ability to invigorate and prevent the loss of strength;
• tonic properties.

For your information: the legendary Paracelsus attempted to treat cancerous tumors using a ruby.

So where did it come from magic stone, and what color can a ruby ​​be? This is evidenced by scientific facts and many years of geological research.

Ruby ancestry

Once upon a time, a majestic stone was born in agony by the bowels of the earth. This process took place during the mutual movement of tectonic layers: crust and magma. The resulting substance, later called by scientists alumina, came out in the form of a crystal. The value of rubies is due to the fact that their genus is too ancient, and the mystery of the appearance of red minerals goes far into the past. In our time, such movements of the earth's layers do not exist, so there is a chance to find scarlet stones only in the strata of rocks about half a million years old.

Distinctive features of the king of stones

What color is ruby ​​in nature? This indicator is influenced by inclusions of chromium. Ruby color palette ranges from hot pink to purplish red. Rubies of the deep color of bovine blood are of the greatest value in the world. They seem to glow from within, mesmerizing with their cold beauty.

As for the physical characteristics of the stone, its structure is one of the densest in nature and has an original, shimmering brilliance: these qualities add a similarity to a diamond to a ruby. In the old days, it was mined and stored only in India and Burma, but gradually developing trade relations allowed the precious mineral to take a trip to Egypt, Greece and great Rome. In addition to healing various ailments, the ruby ​​is famous for the fact that, according to legend, it was honored to adorn the ring of the wise king Solomon. In addition, a luxurious stone was an indispensable attribute of royal regalia and symbols of domination, however, not forgetting to decorate graceful fingers

Ruby: features of the species

These deposits are amazing beautiful stones are localized on the territory of many states, including Sri Lanka, India, African countries, Madagascar, some Asian regions. And each species has its own strengths and unique look.

Guest from Burma

The flagship in the ruby ​​sea is undoubtedly a stone from Burma. The famous Mong-Shu mountain hides in its belly the highest grade Burmese rubies. These are very valuable stones, distinguished by their transparency and color saturation. To find out what color a natural ruby, mined in the territory of Upper Burma, is, one must conjure up a blood-violet hue that does not lose its brilliance in any light. Outwardly, it looks very expensive. Looking at a product with a ruby, you can guess its type and origin by the color of the stone. Ruby from the Mogok Valley has a color range from light to dark red, but it is important to remember that it is the intense saturation that is business card Burmese ruby.

Prices for such stones range from $ 50 per carat, and this is the minimum cost. Further price increases depend on the color of the ruby, and also take into account its quality characteristics. Determining the authenticity of a Burmese ruby ​​is difficult. This is done by well-known laboratories that have received the right to issue the appropriate certificates.

Siamese gift

Rubies mined in Thailand and Vietnam are considered second-class stones, but that doesn't make them any less beautiful. Thai ruby: what color is it and what are its differences? The stones of this region are characterized by a rich palette and sometimes truly unique, valuable specimens are found, costing several thousand dollars per carat. But in the bulk, these stones are rather unevenly colored and do not differ in large sizes.

Ruby breath of Tanzania

Noteworthy minerals are mined in Tanzania. What color is the ruby? A photo of a Tanzanian stone indicates a bright crimson hue, from the contemplation of which it is impossible to tear yourself away. These stones become after cutting, and what is the color of the natural ruby ​​from the bowels of Tanzania? Hazy, but more often transparent, pink or garnet minerals with pronounced internal defects, but jewelers give them a stunning appeal with the help of their skill, extracting fiery reflections from a stone heart.

Ruby mining is also organized in Kenya, Madagascar, India, Afghanistan and other countries, but in terms of value, they are significantly inferior to the Siamese and Burmese species. For example, what color is a ruby ​​from the Kenyan depths? Surprisingly, such minerals have And Malagasy stones are distinguished by orange and pink reflections with a pronounced inner silkiness.

Rubies with a star effect are especially appreciated: stunningly beautiful, transparent stones, often of intense color. Their cost depends on the saturation of the hue, the degree of clarity and clarity of the contour of the star, inside the mineral. They are judged very subjectively, relying more on their own taste than on quality parameters.

Characteristic features of natural stone

Based on this, rubies are distinguished by different color saturation and transparency. If there is a so-called young ruby, what color is it? As a rule, such stones are watery-light, with a pink or lilac tint. In general, rubies in nature are not completely transparent, without foreign inclusions, internal defects and too big size... What color is a real ruby, experts can say with confidence: the mineral contains shades from light scarlet to dark red. Also, natural stones have a dull sheen, and some have a silk tint.

We determine the authenticity

A synthetically grown stone will not have the miraculous properties that a genuine ruby ​​is endowed with. In addition, real jewelry is very expensive, which is why deception and scams often thrive in the sales industry.

How to distinguish imitation from natural stone?

Among other things, there are several important points that you should pay attention to first. So, the price of the issue. Real rubies are not common, therefore, due to their exclusivity, they are quite expensive. The low price should be especially alarming. big stone- such specimens are too rare and very valuable.

And the last thing: color. If the buyer is hurt by the contemplation of a sparkling, bloody ruby, then one must remember that such stones are rare in nature. In other words, the client is either facing a fabulously valuable Burmese ruby ​​or a blatant fake.

There are several simple ways identifying the authenticity of the stone:

1. Ultraviolet test. Under the fake ruby, it turns orange.
2. White blistery blotches. In natural ruby, bubbles are extremely rare and are identical in color to the stone itself. Whereas in fake minerals, circles are light-colored or hollow.
3. Natural stone is usually cold and heated with great difficulty, unlike artificial counterparts.
4. If you put a ruby ​​in a glass of milk, it will turn the liquid pink.
5. Natural stone looks different from different angles.
6. If a crack is found in the stone, then in the natural mineral it will be uneven and will not shine like in a fake.

Therefore, when choosing an expensive ruby, you should definitely consult with a knowledgeable jeweler or gemologist.

Rubies are natural creations that are breathtaking to look at. It doesn't matter what color the ruby ​​is painted: they are used to create talismans for different signs of the zodiac, amulets that can protect from the effects of the forces of evil. They are credited with magical properties and are endowed with healing characteristics. And finally, ruby ​​makes magnificent jewelry worthy of decorating royal houses. A natural mineral of this high class is an excellent choice of real sybarite.

Natural ruby is the most expensive gem in the world. A perfect quality ruby ​​from Burma will cost more expensive than a diamond, with the same quality and weight. This is why perfect rubies of large sizes are very rarely found in nature. But, as with other natural gems, low-quality ruby ​​crystals that are not suitable for cutting cost only a few dollars per. As a rule, these are not transparent stones.

The largest amount ever paid was recorded in 2006 on 15 February. The famous London jeweler, Laurence Graff, paid an incredible record amount. 425 thousand pounds sterling for each carat of 8.62 carat ruby. Which totaled 3.6 million. The ruby ​​was set in a Bulgari ring.

Physicochemical characteristics of ruby

• Ruby is a variety.
• The chemical formula of ruby ​​is Al2O3.
• Cleavage - imaginary, apparent or absent.
• The system is trigonal.
• Habit of crystals in the form of flattened hexagonal plates, also columnar.
• The color of ruby ​​is due to impurities that areomorphically replacing aluminum (chromium, iron, titanium): red, rose-red, purple-red saturation is different - less bright, brighter.
• Transparency - translucent, transparent.
• The shine is glassy.
• Mohs hardness - 9.
• Density - 3.97 - 4.05.
• Refraction or refraction period - 1.766-1.774.
• Fracture - conchial, uneven, brittle crystal.
• Dense samples are resistant to mechanical stress.

The undisputed favorite, the best of the best among rubies, is the Burmese Ruby. Most of them come from the Mogok Valley, a mountainous region of Myanmar. The deep saturated color of these stones is their main advantage. However, not all samples from Mogok are of such high quality. Some Burmese rubies can be as low as $ 20 per carat, while the finest, quality specimens can run as high as $ 5,000 per carat or more.

As with other gemstones, the price is determined based on the richness and beauty of the color, the degree of purity and the absence of defects. The presence of inclusions can significantly reduce, but in some cases increase it. If, for example, a uniform soft "silk" is present in a transparent crystal, then such an inclusion will not be superfluous, and will certainly increase the value of the stone. However, "silk" should be in moderation. Excessive impurities muffle the color and transparency of the ruby, affecting its quality. And, of course, they reduce its price.

In addition to Burma (Myanmar), there are other deposits. In countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania and others, less significant.

Today, of decent quality, natural rubies are mined in Tanzania, in a place called Winza. The crystals mined there are not large. Rarely there are more than 2 - 2.5 carats. But they have a fabulous crimson color. Crystals are more often transparent than cloudy. Not without internal defects. But after cutting, they glow with a dazzling brilliance. They have the very fire, the very sparks that involuntarily attract the eye. I want to buy this ruby, and never part with it.

I would like to tell you a little more about the star ruby. The most expensive samples are transparent, with good color and a clear, correct, star. An order of magnitude cheaper, but by no means cheap rubies are not transparent, but with the same good color and a clear, understandable star. Well, in fact, the worse the color of the stone, the contrast between the star and the main color, proportions, symmetry, the less it costs. However, there is no clear proportion of quality and price. The assessment of the value of a ruby ​​in this case is purely subjective. Everyone has their own taste and preferences. And this must be reckoned with.

Synthetic ruby

There are many synthetic rubies on the gemstone market today, grown by various synthesis methods. Ruby occupies a special place among the synthetic analogs of natural gemstones. It was the ruby ​​that became the first synthetic crystal, which began to be artificially grown on an industrial scale and widely used instead of natural stones for technical purposes and jewelry... You probably saw your mothers and grandmothers have gold rings with crimson-red inserts. So these are the very synthetic rubies that were so fashionable in the Soviet Union.

And today, jewelry stores are inundated with ruby ​​items. However, now they use natural jewelry stones instead of synthetics. Because people want to buy a real one, natural stone, albeit not great.

Quality, color, price of ruby

These preferences of people prompted the merchants to sell synthetics as natural stones. With current technologies, crystals can be grown that are very similar in structure to natural crystals. The majority of the population does not find it possible to distinguish synthetics from real ruby. This can only be done in a special laboratory. And therefore, if you had a unique opportunity to acquire a large and pure gem, you must remember that pure, densely colored large rubies are extremely rare in nature. This fact alone casts doubt on the natural origin of the stone.

Refining the ruby ​​is normal practice

Nowadays, a huge number of rubies are heat-treated. This is the most simple and affordable way remove excess impurities from the crystal and make it more transparent. As a result, the ruby ​​takes on a more uniform color. To make it more transparent, cracks and voids formed after heat treatment are filled with special glass. This type of refining is the most common today. Thanks to this technology, a person with an average income can now afford to buy a natural ruby ​​at a more affordable price.

Compare the result: Ruby, Burma, 1 carat, purity: VVS, not ennobled - $ 5,000. Or ruby, Tanzania, 1 carat, refined - $ 500.

However, if you don't know where to buy a ruby? Ask your fellow jewelers if you have any. If not, look in business directories for organizations that deal with. If you want to save money on buying a stone, look for announcements on the forums. You can find a lot of interesting things there.

The magical properties of ruby

The element of this stone is fire. It allows the owner to be completely safe even among enemies, rewards invulnerability, but for this, the stone must be worn under clothing on the body and it is advisable never to part with it. Ruby owners need to be very careful. If you are unrestrained by nature, it is best if you will not touch the ruby ​​at all. Kind, good man this gem endows with nobility and perseverance in achieving the goal, and, on the contrary, spoils the evil one, strengthening his negative character traits. Ruby increases responsibility in a person and promotes leadership aspirations, relieving the owner of complexes of inferiority and insecurity. It gives birth to love and gravitation for the great, be it art, science, military affairs, etc. In addition, this stone symbolizes passionate carnal love.

Healing properties of ruby

Ruby restores strength, strengthens the heart, normalizes blood pressure. It also helps to restore memory, helps with epilepsy, stops bleeding, helps with wounds, brain diseases, diseases of the spine, bones and joints; protects against viral and other infections.

Ruby for the signs of the zodiac

The zodiac sign of the ruby ​​is Leo. In addition to Lions, the ruby ​​can be worn by Sagittarius. It is not recommended to wear jewelry with a ruby ​​for Virgo and Taurus. It is extremely contraindicated for Cancers and emotional Scorpios.

One of the most sought-after gemstones today was known thousands of years ago. Then people did not know how to distinguish minerals similar in color, reckoning all minerals of red color as rubies. The ancient Indians considered him the stone of the Sun and called him nothing more than "the leader of gems".

In European countries, the ruby ​​was the patron saint of the brave and courageous, knights devoted to ideals. In the countries of the East, the red stone was considered the blood of the Dragon and symbolized vital energy, bringing strength, love and health.

Stone properties

Ruby is a type of red corundum. The shade of the mineral varies from bright pink to deep red and depends on the amount of chromium impurities. The most valuable and rare are pigeon blood corundums, which have a purple tint.

Ruby is a gemstone of the first category and resembles a sapphire in composition. This mineral is second only to diamond in strength. The hardness factor of ruby ​​is 9 on the Mohs scale.

Crystals of red corundum have a high degree of transparency and gloss. Such indicators are not possessed by any other precious mineral, except for diamond. Due to these properties, a large ruby ​​can cost even more than a diamond of the same size.

By outward appearance ruby resembles red spinel and is sometimes distinguishable from it only under a microscope. Also, red corundum is easily confused with pomegranate, zircon, hyacinth, topaz and tourmaline.

Minerals with rutile inclusions similar to stars are of high value. Such stones are very rare and therefore expensive.

In the middle of the 19th century, a method for producing artificial rubies was discovered. Currently, artificial red corundum is used in the manufacture of watches and jewelry and also in quantum electronics as a laser element.

How to determine the quality of a ruby

The cost of natural ruby ​​is quite high, so you shouldn't rush when buying jewelry with this gemstone.

Over the centuries, even some of the rubies of the royal regalia are exposed. So, as a result of modern research, counterfeit rubies have been found in jewelry belonging to the royal family of England. The famous "Ruby of the Black Prince" that adorns the British crown turned out to be just a red spinel. What can we say about our time. However, there are three ways to help you determine the quality of a mineral.

1 way. When buying jewelry with a ruby, be sure to look at the stone not only in artificial light, but also in daylight. Good quality rubies have almost the same hue in any light, while lower quality samples become pale pink in daylight.

Method 2. Examine the stone with a magnifying glass. Natural corundum has inclusions and slight imperfections, while synthetic stones look as clean as glass.

Method 3. Drop on corundum lemon juice... If the stone is real, it will remain unchanged. Otherwise, cloudy inclusions will appear on the stone.

In the case of buying very expensive jewelry with rubies, it is better to contact a professional gemologist who will evaluate the quality of the stone using special equipment. Also, experts advise to purchase products with precious stones from well-known manufacturers who can provide all the necessary information about the stone.

Ruby mining

There are many deposits of rubies. Red corundum is not mined except in Antarctica. But only 1% of the mined minerals are of gem quality.

Until now, rubies are mined using ancient technologies that have been known for many hundreds of years. This time-consuming process is carried out manually by washing sand and pebbles. Often stones are taken directly from the bottom of the rivers.

Rubies of Asian origin are of great value. Burma is considered the oldest deposit. It is Burmese rubies that are valued above the rest due to their rare color. Also known are Indian ruby ​​placers, which are also considered very ancient. For many centuries, these stones have been used to inlay high society jewelry.

Now, in addition to India and Burma, the main exporters of red corundum are Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In Russia, this stone is mined only in the Polar Urals.

Thai rubies have a brownish tint. They are mined in Changwada at a depth of 8 meters. Sri Lanka's corundums are usually bright strawberry in color. The locals call these stones "illam".

Choice of stars

Beauty knows no time. From antique jewels royal family rubies have moved to the collections of leading designers. Nowadays, the stone adorns not only luxurious pieces of jewelry, but also products that any woman can afford.

Typically, high quality red corundums are given a brilliant cut or cabochon cut. The most common setting for rubies is white or red gold. If the product is inlaid different kinds stones, the most elegant and brilliant is the combination of ruby ​​and diamond.

Celebrity beauties often choose ruby ​​accessories to go out. Among the famous fans of this stone are Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Natalie Portman and Kelly Osbourne. But Jessica Simpson received a ring with a ruby ​​from the famous football player Eric Johnson, along with a marriage proposal.

In the photo: a 2.56-carat ruby ​​from Burma. Has not been refined

In this article, you will learn about the characteristics of the various factors that you need to look out for when buying natural rubies. And the given practical advice will help you choose a good quality sample that pleases the eye.

Rubies - gems, which are the red variety of the mineral corundum. They are "siblings" of sapphires in terms of their chemical composition and structure. These are the most expensive colored stones. In terms of value, the best pieces can compete with very expensive colored diamonds. Thus, in May 2015, an unrefined Burmese red ruby ​​weighing 25.59 carats was sold at Sotheby’s auction for $ 30.3 million. This is a record for total cost and a record for cost per carat - $ 1,185,451 / ct.

In this part, we will look at the three main factors that affect the value of a stone: color, clarity, and weight. In the second part, we will look at factors such as the cut of the ruby, its deposits, etc., which also affect the pricing. We will also tell you about interesting varieties. In the third part, we will show you the real prices for ruby ​​per carat.

Ruby color

First of all, the beauty of rubies is influenced by their color. Rubies can be red with hints of pink, purple or orange. The most expensive color is pure spectral red. In commerce, the expression “Pigeon's Blood” can be used to refer to the top-end, bright red color of a ruby, and this color may also be listed in ruby ​​expert reports as a commercial color.

According to the GRS gemological laboratory, pigeon blood rubies have medium to strong red fluorescence, they have a high chromium content and a low iron content (which quenches the fluorescence). Due to the red fluorescence that occurs under the influence of ultraviolet rays, such rubies will show the most bright red color in sunlight. Natural rubies look best in bright sunlight or incandescent light (yellow lighting). Due to this lighting, the red color of the ruby ​​becomes even more saturated. And in daylight (white) their color fades, even not very dark rubies can appear brownish. Foreign sellers take these features into account when decorating lighting in their windows. Many rubies from the royal treasuries are characterized by a bright scarlet color, which is now very rare. Interestingly, there is no consensus among gemologists where there is a clear border in color between pink-red rubies and pink sapphires (both are varieties of corundum).

Photo on the left: standards of red rubies "Pigeon" s Blood from the collection of the Gemological Institute of Thailand (GIT)

Photo: red rubies from the collection of the Gemological Institute of Thailand (GIT). Pigeon blood only stands out for Vivid Red rubies

In Russia, small light pinkish-red corundums of the lowest quality can usually be found in jewelry. Such cheap stones cannot be compared to the best bright red natural samples, which can be similar in color to a red traffic light.

When choosing, you should pay attention to the distribution of color in the stone. The red color can be distributed in the form of irregular spots. For real rubies, sometimes, as well as for sapphires, the presence of color zoning is characteristic, which manifests itself in the form of alternation of light and dark stripes in stone, located at an angle of 120 degrees.

“Practical advice. The most important thing when choosing a natural ruby ​​is to appreciate its color, you should like it. Color is best viewed when different types lighting: in daylight on the street or by a window, and under various lamps, or lanterns with "white" and "yellow" light. Pay attention to how light or dark the specimen is, its saturation, whether the staining of color is visible from the side of the stone platform. Choose bright stones, not dark ones, that look good in different lighting conditions. “

Ruby purity

In the photo: unprocessed ruby ​​from Tajikistan. Due to poor purity, such samples are used for making cabochons.

In addition to color, beauty can also be influenced by how good the purity is. Those. how many inclusions and cracks it contains, and how much they are visible to the naked eye, or when looking through a 10x magnifying glass. Rubies are rare and expensive gemstones, therefore, due to the uniqueness of pure cut specimens, they often have cracks and inclusions. They are characterized by the presence of light needle-like inclusions of rutile or boehmite. Large accumulations of such inclusions can create cloudy areas in the stone. Also, the inclusions can be veils of gas-liquid inclusions or solid crystalline inclusions, such as apatite or zircon. The presence of inclusions may not particularly affect the perception of the beauty of the stone, if they are not very conspicuous and do not look too contrasting.

If a natural ruby ​​has a beautiful color, then the purity can be viewed not very strictly. But if it has perfect purity, then it can be either a very rare and expensive real ruby, or synthetic corundum, which is very cheap. By the way, in the days of the USSR, products with bright pure pink-red rubies were in almost every family. The sad thing is that in reality these stones are not natural, but synthetic, grown according to the Verneuil method. For visually clean stones, it is better to ask the seller for an expert opinion from an independent gemological laboratory, which would confirm its natural origin. Rubies of poor clarity and clarity are usually cabochon cut. Also, opaque pieces of raw materials can be used to make carvings.

In the photo: two unrefined rubies from Burma. The stone on the left has more inclusions and cracks inside than the stone on the right. Due to its better transparency, the specimen on the right also reflects the light better from the sides of the pavilion, and in dynamics this stone will look more interesting than the specimen on the left.

“Practical advice. Rate the cleanliness. Make sure the stone is well wiped and free from surface contamination. First look at the stone with your naked eye. Are large cracks or inclusions striking? It is desirable that they are not in the center of the stone. See if inclusions and cracks greatly affect the overall attractiveness of a stone? Then, you can look at the stone with a 10x triplet magnifying glass for a more thorough analysis. At the same time, pay attention to whether there are large cracks in the stone that come out to its surface. The presence of such cracks can sometimes cause a cut ruby ​​to shatter, even from an accidental light blow. "

Ruby weight

The mass of the stone is the next factor to look out for when choosing a ruby. Because here the rarity factor already influences: large stones are less common than small ones. The larger precious ruby, the more its cost per carat will be. Its cost per carat with an increase in their mass increases more than the cost of, for example, sapphires or emeralds. This is due to the noticeable rarity of large real natural specimens. Now on the world market it is rather difficult to find a cut natural ruby ​​of good quality larger than 3 carats. Usually, however, high quality is found in stones only up to 1 carat.

“Practical advice. You can roughly estimate how the stone will look when attached to a piece of jewelry. To do this, you need to put it on top of your fingers. Swing your palm in different lighting conditions and notice the beauty of the stone as a whole. Do you like him or not? "

Video: Assessment of the overall attractiveness of a 4.06-carat ruby ​​from Mozambique. The stone was heat treated

In the second part, we will consider such factors as the cutting of a ruby, its deposits, the presence of refinement and certification, which also affect the pricing of a ruby. We will also tell you about the varieties.
- In the third part we will show you the real prices per carat.

Ruby is one of the most expensive precious stones in our time. Its value is determined by transparency, color saturation, and absence of defects.

The most common color is bright red, but its colors can range from raspberry pink to red-purple, as seen in the photo. The stone got its name precisely because of its color, from rubeus (lat.) - "red".

Ruby stone, properties

Ruby stone is a kind of mineral corundum which is alumina. Chromium imparts a red tint to it. The main property of the mineral is its hardness, which on the Mohs scale is 9. This means that ruby ​​is the second hardest stone after diamond.

This mineral may contain foreign inclusions, which, however, is not considered a disadvantage. On the contrary, they testify to its natural origin. In the photo of the ruby, you can see rutile inclusions, giving the stone a silk tint, which even increases its value.

Place of Birth

Ruby found all over the world, however, most often they find an opaque stone, with defects, unsuitable for cutting and therefore of little value. Minerals found in different places differ in their color. However, even within the same deposit, minerals of various shades are found.

Due to the fact that natural stone meeting the above parameters is rare, it the price is very high and can go up to $ 5,000 per carat. And the larger the stone itself, the higher the carat value will be. Clear rubies weighing more than two carats may be worth more than diamonds of equal weight.

Ruby adored by women

Processing of artificial stones

• There is a practice of refining stones with defects: from a crystal remove excess impurities so that it becomes more transparent, and the cracks and voids are filled with glass. Such stones are several times cheaper and are available to the general population, not inferior in beauty to the real ones. There is an overwhelming amount of crystals processed in this way on the modern market, more than 90%.
• There are also synthetic rubies, the crystals of which are grown artificially. In Soviet times, their production reached an industrial scale, but now natural stones are more valuable. Unscrupulous sellers can pass off an artificial crystal as a real one to get more profit. Currently, technologies for growing artificial rubies have reached a high level, and only a specialist can distinguish them from real ones.
• Of some stones make fakes, for example, from garnet (and pyrope and almandine included in its group) in combination with glass. It should be noted that tourmaline, spinel, topaz, zircon-hyacinth look like a real ruby.

Artificial rubies are used in watch movements, solid-state lasers and other technical devices.

Application in medicine

Due to the property of corundum not to enter into chemical reactions, unlike gold and silver, rubies are used in implantation and for dental prosthetics. Ruby laser is widely used in eye surgeries and in cosmetology to get rid of tattoos and birthmarks.

History and magical properties of ruby

These precious stones were valued in India already in the second millennium AD: they used as talismans... Later they were brought to Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome. V Medieval Russia ruby stones were called red "yahonts". Jewelry made from them was very expensive, and only royalty and nobility could afford them. The famous cap of Monomakh, which the tsars wore at the wedding to the kingdom, was decorated with emeralds and rubies.

Due to the rich bright red color, the ancients considered rubies to be the blood of the Dragon and attributed to them mysterious magical properties.

• First of all, this bright red stone was a symbol of power; it was no coincidence that royal persons adorned their clothes and wore them as a talisman that strengthens power. It was believed that he is a source of energy, and endows a brave person with great strength.
• When worn constantly, it made its owner invulnerable and could protect against evil magic, ill-wishers, various diseases and dangers. Apparently, this is why this stone is still considered a powerful amulet for people whose work is associated with a risk to their lives: for example, rescuers, firefighters and the military.
• Our ancestors believed that the stone lost its luster or changed color if brought closer to poison. Therefore, it was considered a reliable means of identifying poisoned food. There was often a struggle for power among noble people, and ruby ​​rings gave hope to their owners that their lives would be safe.
• The stone was endowed with the energy of passion and believed that it could kindle love. In the Middle Ages, men gave ruby ​​jewelry to their beloved in the hope of evoking a reciprocal feeling.
• Wearers of a ruby ​​must have pure thoughts and strong character. It is believed that the mineral enhances those character traits that prevail in humans. Therefore, it will help strengthen determination, courage and nobility, but it will also increase anger, greed and dishonesty and, in the end, bring misfortune to such an owner.
• In addition, ruby ​​is believed to increase vitality, gives a feeling of joy, protects against negative thoughts, improves memory and prolongs life.

And today they believe that the ruby ​​has magical properties.

Medicinal properties

Since ancient times, ruby ​​has been credited with healing properties. People believed that he promoted healing the digestive system, joints, spine, throat ailments and even healing from epilepsy and paralysis. For medicinal purposes, ruby ​​jewelry was worn as an amulet, the stone was ground into powder or water was infused on it. It was even recommended to be worn by women who could not get pregnant for a long time, since they believed that the stone endows its owners with fertility.

Nowadays, folk healers believe that jewelry from this stone follows wear with high blood pressure, h diseases of the blood and heart. For the treatment of the spine and joints, it is recommended to apply stones to the affected areas. Rubies are believed to help people with sleep disorders and depression. They are also advised to wear them to increase immunity, improve metabolism and tissue regeneration.